Looked at the parts fiche and yep you're right it is a cush, but not the same as an XL hub. Plummer Mikes hub is an MT hub and not an XL hub, cush for cush or not. The XL hub has a stamped steel cover over the sprocket which the left hand spacer fits into, under that cover is a spanner nut that holds the left hand bearing. Like I said I have an MT hub that was on one of my XLs when I got it, chrome steel wheel still laced to it.

Click to expand...

It's now sporting an 81 XR200 front end.

My bikes engine number starts with SL too. I wonder what kind of frankenhonda I have? :huh

Im going to look at a 1985 xl250r this week, from the pictures it is in really nice shape. I was wondering if there was anything model specific that I should be looking for on these bikes. Im a fairly tall guy ( 6'3 240lbs ) is the 250 going to be on the small side for me? I will be riding it 80% off road on some really tight logging roads and paths, any input would be great!

My bikes engine number starts with SL too. I wonder what kind of frankenhonda I have? :huh

Click to expand...

If the engine number starts with "SL" then it is a 1972-73 K0 engine, it'll have no fins on the timing chain side of the cylinder head. 1975s on have small cooling fins there. Top end gaskets (and bolt pattern) are unique to the 72-73 engines, so good bit to know if you ever plan on tearing down the top end, especially if the "bike" is a "75" ...ish.

Ive been meaning to post up some photos here.. better late than never so here are some of the XLs Ive owned and still own. I dont have a photos of most of the XLs Ive had or my first one, a '74 XL175 my Dad got new then handed it down to me.

83 & 85 100s I used to have, I rode the red one from key largo to key west and back one time.

'85 80S that restarted the pitbike craze for me

82 125S Ive owned the longest of them all.

87 600R

85 250R durring resto mod phase

the carb set on the 250R now which consist of an XL350R primary, XR350R secondary,
w/XR500R float bowls.

85 250R

87 XLR80R rare, grey market (Japan Only edition) 4sale BTW

Custom XRL80SR mini adv I built from an 80S and 80R
since the XLR80R is so rare I didnt want to mod it out so I made this one.

Have you tried bearing houses or hydralic repair shops? What size do you need? I've got a couple hundred different sizes in my garage. If we can figure out what you need, you can have a set for the freight charge.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the offer - I think I have a solution now... and for the record, my '76 XL with the Progressives needs 10mm x 16mm x 19mm sleeves.

I love these old XL's. This is my second one, I had a 1980 a few years ago but ended up selling it. I picked this bike up this past Spring and have been riding it all summer. It needed a cam chain plus a whole bunch of other misc. parts. Here's a pic of the finished bike. Runs great and is a blast to ride. No title so I'm using it as an off-road rider. I would have loved to have this bike when I was a teenager but then again it would have been new.

Ok knowledgeable people.. I just bought a real ratty xl250, the older 72-74 version with the side inlet port. I'm going to to a big resto job on it and turn it into a road racing vintage motard ( if that makes sense).

There's plenty to do, but the first major thing I've found is some play in the crank. There's a few thou of end float but the worry is there is a bit of radial play too. just enough so you can feel it.

I had an XL many years ago and my vague memory is telling me that I did this before, (changed the bearings) and it made no difference and I think it turned out to be the bearing moving in the crankcase ( they are pegged in place, not an interference fit). I think it would have been better to locktite them in place.

So what's the consensus, is it normal for the crank to move a little when you grab the flywheel?

I serviced my forks a couple of years ago and between then and now moved to South Carolina and back. Somewhere in the boxes is my XL250 manual, but I have not discovered it yet.

So a couple of questions: What is the recommended amount of fork oil, and what weight?

I am sure I followed the book correctly, but the forks are really stiff. They almost feel rigid, but they dive under braking and are not bound up in any way. I suspect I used ATF for fluid as what I poured out looks exactly like a partial jug of ATF on my shelf. The seals are good and the insides are clean.

I serviced my forks a couple of years ago and between then and now moved to South Carolina and back. Somewhere in the boxes is my XL250 manual, but I have not discovered it yet.
So a couple of questions: What is the recommended amount of fork oil, and what weight?
I am sure I followed the book correctly, but the forks are really stiff. They almost feel rigid, but they dive under braking and are not bound up in any way. I suspect I used ATF for fluid as what I poured out looks exactly like a partial jug of ATF on my shelf. The seals are good and the insides are clean.
Are there some common mods for making them better?
It is this bike, btw. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398283
Thanks!

Click to expand...

Got stock springs?
My '72 manual says 165cc if it's dry & 145cc since 20cc will still be inside.
I was told to try 10wt in mine, 20 if I liked a stiffer ride.

Got stock springs?
My '72 manual says 165cc if it's dry & 145cc since 20cc will still be inside.
I was told to try 10wt in mine, 20 if I liked a stiffer ride.

Click to expand...

Stock springs. I pulled mine completely apart yesterday and cleaned them thoroughly. You definitely need some "special tools" to get all the grunge out. I reassembled them this afternoon and will install them on the bike in the morning. My front end was really stiff, so I am trying some 5wt oil to see what I get.

Stock springs. I pulled mine completely apart yesterday and cleaned them thoroughly. You definitely need some "special tools" to get all the grunge out. I reassembled them this afternoon and will install them on the bike in the morning. My front end was really stiff, so I am trying some 5wt oil to see what I get.

Click to expand...

Well, I finally found my manual and realized the forks I have been working on may not be the correct ones. First, there is no damper rod spring. and the holes in the damper rod do not match either parts layout I have. Was there ever a set of forks lile this that didn't have damper springs? Very odd.

So I pulled the spare set apart this morning. They look correct and have all the parts. They also have lots of grunge, but I can deal with that. The spare set of forks is now clean with fresh oil ready to be installed.

1st gen ('72-'75) 250's and 350s interchange, 2nd gen ('76-'78) 250's and 350's interchange with the exception of the '78 250- it was the first "S" model, 3rd gen ('78-'82) "S" models 250 and 500 should all interchange as well. after that, not sure if the 4th gen / RFVC engines are interchangable or not.

Interchanging engines between generations is definitely NOT an easy drop in project...

I have two complete 78 XR75s that I've been fiddling with for a while now and just don't have the patience for any more... Anyone looking for specific parts PM me and let me know. I'm getting photos and the whole list together for the classifieds, but thought I'd give a shout out here first.